Exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

The exercise apparatus of the present invention comprises a treadmill  11  having a generally vertical running surface  14 , and a bench  12  for supporting a user&#39;s upper body and hips. The angle of the running surface is adjustable relative to the ground within a range of angles, including a vertical angle. The bench may be positioned so that the feet of a user supported thereon may contact the running surface of the treadmill to exercise. The bench comprises a seat  23  and a back support  22 , wherein the relative angle and position of the seat and back support are independently adjustable.

The present invention relates to exercise apparatus, and in particular to exercise apparatus comprising a vertically arranged treadmill and bench.

Exercise on a conventional treadmill provides excellent cardiovascular exercise but is unsuitable for some people. For example a patient recovering from injury, particularly to their legs and/or lower back, which has resulted in either a long period of time with the patient being unable to walk, or for a patient suffering from a debilitating condition such as arthritis, it is often difficult for the patient to undertake cardiovascular exercise or build up strength in their legs. This is because it is difficult or painful for the patient to put their full body weight onto their legs until they have been sufficiently strengthened. In situations where a patient is unable to put their full body weight onto their legs, it is still important that they undertake cardiovascular exercise, which would otherwise be difficult.

Also during rehabilitation from an injury, the legs must be exercised to build up the necessary strength to enable the patient to walk, so exercise equipment is required to facilitate this exercise. One such piece of apparatus that has been developed to facilitate such rehabilitation and/or exercise is disclosed in GB Patent No. 2347871, which discloses a vertically arranged treadmill and a bench. A patient lies on the bench with their hips and back supported thereon, allowing them to exercise on the treadmill. The angle of the treadmill disclosed in this patent is not adjustable, and the position of the bench is not adjustable. Therefore the quality of exercise that can be undertaken on this apparatus is severely limited, because it does not allow for progressive changes in the patient's position, which can affect the amount of force experienced by their legs, as well as the intensity and type of exercise undertaken.

The present invention aims to provide exercise apparatus that is adjustable, whilst allowing most if not all of the patient's body weight to be removed from their legs. Such exercise apparatus aims to be appropriate both for those who are rehabilitating from injury as well as healthy people who wish to alter the types of exercise done or minimise the potential for self-inflicted damage from the excessive use of treadmills or conventional over ground running

According to the present invention there is provided exercise apparatus comprising:

-   -   a treadmill having a generally vertical running surface, the         angle of the running surface being adjustable relative to the         ground within a range of angles, including a substantially         vertical angle; and     -   a bench for supporting a users upper body and hips, the bench         being positioned so that a user supported thereon can contact         the running surface of the treadmill with their feet to         exercise, the bench comprising a seat and back support, wherein         the relative angle and position of the seat and back support are         independently adjustable.

The treadmill is preferably supported on or within a support structure such as a frame. Preferably the nature of the mounting of the treadmill within the support structure permits the adjustment of the angle of the treadmill, and therefore the angle of the running surface, relative to the bench, that adjustment being about a pivot point at or near a top end of the treadmill. Suitable means are preferably provided to adjust the angle of the treadmill and secure it in a desired position. The angle of the treadmill may be adjusted manually and may be maintained in a particular position. A pin and aperture mechanism may be provided to maintain the treadmill in one of a range of particular positions. The adjustment of the angle of the treadmill could be achieved in many ways and may be powered or manual.

It is preferred that the treadmill is cushioned, for example by damping springs, such that the impact of a foot on the running surface of the treadmill during use is dampened. The degree of cushioning is preferably adjustable so that it may be altered to suit the differing needs of particular users.

The bench and the treadmill are preferably supported on a single frame. This helps to integrate the device and ensure the treadmill and bench remain in the correct relative positions. Such a single frame and indeed the entire apparatus may be formed from a number of component parts that may be assembled and disassembled for storage and transport.

To permit comfortable use by users of different heights, it is preferred that the bench be slidably or adjustably mounted to the frame so that the bench may be located at different horizontal distances from the treadmill. The seat and back support of the bench are also independently adjustable. This allows the angle and position of a user to be adjusted between a fully reclined position and a sitting position. Additionally the bench may also be provided with a neck/shoulder support, such neck/shoulder support conveniently being on the end of the back support distal to the seat and adjustable with respect to the back support.

It is preferred that support is provided for the user's limbs during exercise. This support predominantly serves to counteract the effect of gravity which might otherwise swiftly tire a user, but also can add resistance to movement (for example in the down stroke where gravity may provide too much assistance to the user). Therefore, it is preferred that at least one support cable is provided to support the user's legs during use. Two cables can be provided, one to support each of the user's legs. Most advantageously, four cables may be provided, two to support the user's lower legs and two others to support the user's upper legs or arms. It is preferred that the cable or cables have a cuff or similar device to secure the cable comfortably to the user's limbs.

The or each cable preferably connects to a pulley arrangement at the top of the treadmill so that they can support the user's legs and or arms from above. The pulley arrangement may include a number of pulleys and anchor points as well as tensioning means which may be used to adjust the force exerted by the cables on the limbs as well as control the extension and retraction of the cables as the limbs move. One or more, preferably four, separate cables may be provided and these may each be connected to separate pulley sets in the pulley arrangement for independent operation.

The or each cable may be elasticated to provide cushioned resistance. Alternatively, each cable may be generally non-extensible, but attached to a resilient member, such as a spring or length of elastic, which is resiliently deforms when the cable is pulled so that the cable will retract when the load is reduced. As well as resilient members, the extension and retraction of the cables can be achieved by many suitable mechanisms, such as counterbalances. It is preferred that the effective untensioned length of at least one of the cables is adjustable.

The apparatus preferably includes sensors connected to various components including the treadmill, which sensors monitor the use made thereof. The apparatus may also include a display wherein the user can obtain feedback showing, for example, the exercise time elapsed, the number of calories burned their heat rate, etc such information possibly calculated from the sensors.

So that it may be better understood, by way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the exercise apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective of the frame without the bench;

FIG. 5 is a side view of apparatus from behind the treadmill showing the pulley arrangement;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the bench; and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of part of the pulley arrangement separate from the remainder of the device.

With reference to all of the Figures there is shown one embodiment of exercise apparatus according to the present invention, which embodiment is generally indicated 10. This comprises a treadmill indicated 11 which is generally vertically arranged adjacent a bench indicated 12 upon which a person exercising (also referred to as a user) is supported as they walk or run on the treadmill. Both the treadmill 11 and the bench 12 are located upon a frame generally indicated 13.

The treadmill 11 comprises an endless belt 14 suspended around rollers (not visible), to provide a moving surface on which a user may place their feet to exercise. This moving surface is made in accordance with generally known construction techniques for such items. The treadmill 11 is located within an inner frame 15, which is pivotally mounted in an outer frame 16 about a pivot point at the top end thereof. A series of inner frame apertures 17 are provided on either side of the inner frame 15 towards the bottom end thereof, which align with corresponding outer frame apertures 18 on outer frame 16 at different angles. A retaining pin (not shown) may be inserted through each outer frame aperture 18 and into one of the inner frame apertures 17 to set the treadmill 11 at a particular angle. The angle of the treadmill 11 is manually adjustable in this embodiment, though in alternative embodiments this may be motor driven and/or use a different adjustment mechanism.

The range of rotational adjustment about the upper pivot point is quite small (about 20° in this embodiment) and will include the vertical within that range. However the vertical position (i.e. 90° to the ground) may be at or adjacent one extreme of that range or at an intermediate point thereof. In the present invention it is highly desirable to alter the angle of the treadmill about a pivot point at the top so that the weight of the treadmill is not a problem when adjusting it. However it could be possible to have a pivot point at a different position along the length of the treadmill if the apparatus were suitably constructed.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a compressed spring assembly 20 is provided behind the inner frame 15 and this dampens the impact of a foot on the treadmill 11 during use. The compressed spring assembly 20 may be disconnected if it is not required, and in the drawings it is shown in a retracted position where it does not contact the. Other damping mechanisms may be employed.

The bench 12 is positioned in front of the treadmill 11 for a user to sit or lie on whilst exercising. As most clearly shown in FIG. 6, the bench comprises a back support 22 and a seat 23 connected to a chassis 24. The back support 22 and the seat 23 are independently pivotally connected to a bracket 29 on the chassis 24 by pivot rod 25 extending through rear parts of each.

The angle of the back support 22 relative to the chassis can be altered from horizontal to beyond vertical, and it is held at a desired position (when not flat against the chassis) by parallel side arms 30, which are interconnected by tie rod 31. The side arms 30 are pivotally connected to the back support 22 at pivot points 32. Notched bars 33 are provided on the inside of the chassis 24, each bar 33 having a series of detents 34 into which the outer ends of tie rod 31 locate to fix the position of the back support 22.

The frame 13 is constructed from a suitably strong material such as metal tubing or plastic. The frame comprises parallel elongate side bars 40 that run the length of the exercise apparatus 10 and support it on the ground, as well as various bars extending up to support the treadmill 11 and the bench 12. The bench 12 is supported by two pairs of upstanding support bars 41 a and 41 b, and 42 a and 42 b. Upstanding support bars 41 a and 42 a are joined at their top ends by a first horizontal bar 43 and upstanding support bars 41 b and 42 b are joined at their top ends by a second horizontal bar 44. A series of slats 47 are positioned between bench support bars 43 and 44. As more clearly shown in FIG. 4, parallel tracks 35 are connected to the slats 47, and the chassis 24 is slidably mounted on sliders 36 connected to tracks 35. This permits the distance of the bench 12 from the treadmill 11 to be adjusted. Upstanding support bars 41 a and 41 b and 42 a and 42 b are connected respectively by horizontal support bars 45 and 46.

The outer frame 16 of the treadmill 11 is supported between parallel upright bars 50 which upstand from the side bars 40. Also upwardly extending from the side bars 40 are two curved bars 52 at the rear of the exercise apparatus 10. The two curved bars 52 are joined at the top by cross bar 56. Extending from the junction of the top end of curved bars 52 and beyond upright bars 50 are opposed side bars 53. The opposed side bars 53 extend beyond treadmill 11, and are joined by a front cross bar 54.

This embodiment of the present invention includes a pulley system for use with up to four cables (not shown), which provide additional support and/or resistance to a user's limbs during exercise. The pulley system has four pulley sets, which are essentially identical, each controlling a single cable, so similar reference numerals will be used to describe similar parts. For simplicity reference will be made to a single set. Each pulley set comprises an overhead pulley 60 rotatable about axle 61, which is disposed between side bars 53 of the frame 13, and is positioned above and in front of the treadmill 11. The cable passes over this and hangs in front of the running surface for attachment to a user's limb.

As best seen in FIG. 7, each pulley set further comprises a carriage 62 slidably mounted on a track 63. Mounted on the carriage 62 is a carriage pulley 66. The carriage 62 is attached to a loop of thick elastic band 64, formed by anchoring both ends of the band directly or indirectly to the frame 13 at a point generally indicated 65. The elastic band provides tension which counteracts the weight of the user's legs or against which the user works during exercise. The tension in the band before and during movement may be altered to suit particular users or uses. This alteration may be achieved in a variety of ways, for example by altering the anchoring of the loop to change the length of the loop; or by moving the resting position of the carriage. Extending upwardly from a track 63 is head 71, on either side of which are head pulleys 67, 68. The tracks 63 are connected to columns forming part of a pulley sub-frame 70, which also supports the head 71 and head pulleys 67, 68. The pulley sub-frame 70 is mounted in the main frame 13.

Slidably mounted to the rear of sub-frame 70 is anchor bar 72, to which one end of each cable is attached by passing it through a hole 74 and securing. Anchor bar 72 may be mounted at different positions on tracks 73 on the sub-frame 70, so that by moving the anchor bar 72 up and down the tracks 73, the length of the cables extending from the overhead pulley can be altered. The length of each cable may be independently adjusted by altering the point at which it is anchored to the anchor bar.

Each cable, when included, is connected at one end to the anchor bar 72. It extends upward passing round one head pulley 67, and back down and around the carriage pulley 66. The cable then passes back up and around the other head pulley 68 before passing over the overhead pulley 60, from which is hangs down in front of the treadmill 11 for attachment to a user's limb. When connected to a user's limb the cable can be pulled, and this forces the carriage 62 to move up the track 63 against the force of the elastic band 64 which is being stretched. As force exerted by the lib reduces, the elastic band contracts to move the carriage 62 down and draw the cable back up in a reverse direction. 

1. Exercise apparatus comprising: a treadmill having a generally vertical running surface, the angle of the running surface being adjustable relative to the ground within a range of angles, including a substantially vertical angle with respect to the ground; and a bench for supporting a user's upper body and hips, the bench being positioned so that a user supported thereon can contact the running surface of the treadmill with their feet to exercise, the bench comprising a seat and back support, wherein the relative angle and position of the seat and back support are independently adjustable
 2. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angle of the treadmill relative to the bench is adjustable about a pivot point at or near a top end of the treadmill.
 3. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein damping means is provided to cushion the impact of limbs on the treadmill.
 4. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bench and the treadmill are supported on or within a single support structure.
 5. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bench is slidably or adjustably mounted to the support structure so that the horizontal position of the bench relative to the treadmill may be altered.
 6. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bench is provided with an independently adjustable neck/shoulder support.
 7. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one support cable is provided to support a user's leg during use.
 8. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein four independent cables are provided.
 9. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the or each cable has a cuff at one end to attach the cable to a user's limb.
 10. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein a pulley arrangement is provided to control the movement of the or each cable.
 11. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pulley arrangement has a pulley set for each cable.
 12. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the or each cable is elasticated.
 13. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the length of the or each cable is adjustable.
 14. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including sensors connected to the apparatus, including the treadmill, which monitor the use made thereof.
 15. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further including a display from which the user can obtain feedback showing information obtained from the sensors such as time elapsed, calories burnt, and heart rate. 